NEPAL: A LITTLE-KNOWN KINGDOM
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Drawn by A. H. Bumstead
MAP SHOWING TIE GEOGRAPHICAL RELATION OF NEPAL TO INDIA, BURMA,
AND TIBET
The kingdom of Nepal has an area comparable to the combined areas of New York and
Connecticut.
The inhabitants of Nepal are collect
ively known as "Paharias," or "Dwellers
in the Hills," and are divided into in
numerable castes, of which the principal
among the Gurkhas, now the dominant
race, are as follows in the order of social
precedence:
The following are known as high caste:
I. Brahmans, who eat rice cooked only
by members of their own caste. They
drink water from the hands of members
of castes Nos. 2 to 19.
2. Surmgasi, who eat rice cooked by
Brahmans, Thakuris, and Khas only.
They drink water from the hands of all
castes up to No. 19.
3. Thakuri, who eat rice cooked by
Brahmans only. They drink water from
hands of all members of all castes up
to 19.
4. Khas or Chitsi, who eat rice cooked
by Brahmans and Thakuris only and
drink water from hands of all members
of castes Nos. 2 to 19.
The intermediate castes run from 5 to
19, inclusive, and the lower castes from
20 to 24, inclusive.
The five castes from 20 to 24 do not
have Brahmans as priests. Their priests
are members of their own castes. They
have no dealings of any kind with castes
I to 20. They must leave the road on
the approach of a member of castes Nos.
I to 19 and call out to give warning of
their approach. They may not enter the
courtyards of temples.
The Bantor, Danuar, and Drai tribes
belong to the plains, and no one knows
how to classify them in respect to social
precedence.
RECRUITING FOR ARMY IS RESTRICTED TO
CERTAIN CLASSES
Recruiting for the British and Nepalese
armies is carried on only from certain of
these castes. In addition to these, there
are among the Newars, or conquered
people, 41 castes and subcastes.
Then all trades are subdivided into
castes-masons, carpenters, potters, etc.
It can be imagined that, with such a
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